Police: Plant experts can help find baby's remains

April 3, 2013 | AP Authorities say they're seeking plant experts to help find the remains of a West Michigan baby who disappeared nearly two years ago.

Ludington police said Wednesday they plan to search in late June using botanical evidence found on the shoes of Katherine Phillips' father. Sean Phillips was sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison last year for an unlawful imprisonment conviction in the case, which police have said they're treating as a homicide.

Officials say the June 28-29 period was chosen because it's the same timeframe Katherine disappeared in 2011 and similar plant material will be present.

Katherine was 4 1/2 months old when she was last seen. She lived with her mother, Ariel Courtland, in Ludington, about 80 miles northwest of Grand Rapids.